Controversial memorial moved from Boone County courthouse

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – After almost two years of controversy, a veterans’ memorial that bears a religious symbol has been moved from the Boone County Courthouse grounds to a private cemetery.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports the memorial, which listed the names of two Boone County men killed in Operation Desert Storm, was moved during the weekend to the Columbia Cemetery. The ichthus, often called a “Jesus fish,” will be displayed at the cemetery.

The memorial became the focus of controversy in June 2014 when the Americans United for Separation of Church and State threatened to take legal action against governments that allow religious symbols on public land. Despite strong opposition, including from the parents of the two soldiers named on the memorial, the county commission voted to move the monument.